By Roberto Caiafa
South African Minister of Defense and Military Veterans Thandi Modise said in a speech to Parliament’s Defense and Military Veterans Committee in Cape Town that she intends to announce a partnership with Brazil’s largest aerospace and defense group, Embraer, and its Embraer Defesa e Segurança division.
The minister said the partnership would involve manufacturing and repairing aircraft in South Africa, which would require a new financial investment by the South African government in its aerospace and defense industry, which was hard hit by an unprecedented crisis.
The minister gave no further details, despite questions from the local press.
The partnership would be aimed at meeting the demands of the South African National Defense Forces (Sandf).
Embraer is the world’s third-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer, specializing in 150 or fewer-seat models.
It is also a major producer of business jets and agricultural aircraft in the civil sector.
Its defense portfolio includes the A-29 Super Tucano, a modern light attack turboprop and advanced trainer aircraft, and the KC-390 Millennium airlifter and in-flight refueling aircraft.
The Brazilian aerospace giant also manufactures Gripen E single-seat fighters and is playing an important role in the development of the Gripen F two-seat version, under license from the Swedish company SAAB (two-seat aircraft are exclusive to the Brazilian Air Force, until now).
It is also active in the area of defense electronics, with emphasis on radar systems such as the M200 Vigilante, and in the space sector through Visiona.
Before referring to Brazil’s Embraer, Modise stated that the local defense industry was important to South Africa.
“We are looking at partnerships with industries in other countries as a strategy to revive the state-owned Denel defense industrial group,” she said.
Regarding Armscor, South Africa’s defense acquisition, divestment, research and development agency, the minister said the state-owned company was on the road to recovery and that the South African government would be “compelled” to invest more in defense research and technology development and intellectual property development.
Modise states that “the main focus of the partnerships is to renew the Sandf’s assets, especially warships (Emgepron) and airlifters (KC-390), as well as to create a Rapid Reaction Force (A-29 Super Tucano), among other priorities.”
A new and forthcoming South African National Security Policy document is being drafted and presented to the South African Cabinet in 2024.
“This document should substantially assist in materializing these planned acquisitions and partnerships,” concluded the South African minister.
With information from Infodefensa
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